Begin: A Jungkook Story ✔

Chapter Ten: The Youngest One

Spring was in the air, Jungkook was now in 7th grade and had never hated school more. C's had slowly turned to D's and D's to F's and he was at risk of repeating the 7th grade.

He just wanted to sing and dance around. Sometimes he would ask for a bathroom pass and play a song in his head, dancing and singing his way down the hallway...sometimes he jumped up on the toilet seat and pretended it was a stage....

It was late March when a simple advertisement on his favorite singing show would change his life.

"Superstar K will be holding auditions to look for the next big talent! Audition to be a Superstar!" They listed the dates and cities, and Jungkook saw with his heart pounding suddenly that they were holding auditions in Daegu in May. That is only 2 hours away, Jungkook realized.

It felt like something came into him suddenly, a breath, an intention. With laser focus he decided he would audition for the show. If he made it, maybe he could get out of the rest of 7th grade!

"Mama!" He yelled, "Mama!! I'm going to audition for Superstar K!"

Suddenly now every single minute was devoted to singing. He memorized 2 songs for his audition and practiced them non-stop. It gave him the excuse he was looking for to completely give up on school, spending every moment practicing and daydreaming.

Sometimes when he couldn't sit at his desk anymore, he would go to the bathroom and sing and dance until he could face sitting down again.

There was more than one occasion when boys walked into the bathroom to see him dancing and performing for himself in front of the mirror, and Jungkook would redden with shame and slink away.

........................................................................

"Mama, Thursday is the audition, you can bring me, right?" Jungkook bounced excitedly into the living room. "It starts at 2, so you have to come get me from school early so we can make it."

"Yes, Jungkookah, yes, I can bring you," she smiled. "There will be a lot of people there, though, I don't want you to get disappointed." His mood was sobered.

"I know, Mama, but I have to try." he said earnestly, "If I make it, maybe I can get out of school for the rest of the year!" She looked at him with a mixture of love and pity.

"You are amazing, Jungkookah, maybe you will get it!" She said with a smile.

That night she lay in bed beside Mr. Jeon. "Jungkookie's audition is Thursday in Daegu, we will probably be gone until late." She was quiet for a second. "You can make dinner for Junghyun?" She asked nervously.

"Of course," he kissed her head. "You are nervous for Jungkookie?"

She swallowed. "He is working so hard on his songs for the audition, but I don't think he realizes how many bigger, older, more experienced boys and girls he will be up against." She sighed. "You know how he is when he sets his mind on something, but this isn't something he can control.... I just don't want him to be too disappointed." He kissed her head.

"All we can do is give him room to open his wings and hope to lift them...in the end he is the one that has to fly...or fall." He met her eyes, "But either way, he will learn." He hugged her. "Jungkookie is going to be okay, love, I know it."

She wished she shared his confidence, in that moment.

...................................................................................